It has been 19 years since trainer Red Smith won the Canadian Derby with fan favourite Fancy As, and it looks like he’s got a legitimate contender in Alberta-bred Maskwecis for 2020.
Maskwecis (Jimmy Creed – Maidstone, by Aptitude) and Rico Walcott won the $40,000 Western Canada Handicap at Century Mile and stamp themselves as the favourites heading towards the Derby, September 27.
The dark bay settled off the pace of This Time Lucky through an initial two furlongs in 21.70 and a half mile in 44.57. He was four wide while stalking and then five wide when he made his big into the turn for home while Dune D’oro went for the lead. Maskwecis overhauled Dune D’Oro in the final furlong to win in 1:10.02 for a 74 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form. Dune D’Oro was 1 1/4 lengths back in second with Bare Back Jack third.
A $7,500 purchase from the CTHS Alberta sale in 2018 by Smith, Maskwecis is the sixth foal to race of Maidstone, who did not race and is a daughter of American Grade 2 winner Apple of Kent. Maskwecis was bred by Doug Oberg who also races horses.
Through July 26, Rico Walcott is now atop the leading rider standings at Century Mile with 19 wins over Rigo Sarmiento, who won Friday’s Chariot Chaser Stakes aboard Someone Else (Boos – Just Bluffin by Pine Bluff) owned by Riversedge Racing and trained by Tim Rycroft. Sarmiento has 14 wins and Antonio Whitehall has 13.
Rycroft leads trainers with 12 over Dale Saunders who has 8.
Riversedge leads owners with $76,00 in earnings while Saunders leads by wins with 7.
More from News:
